Subscribe to RSS
![](/products/assets/desktop/img/oa-logo.png)
DOI: 10.5999/aps.2015.42.4.407
Relationship between Locations of Facial Injury and the Use of Bicycle Helmets: A Systematic Review
![](https://www.thieme-connect.de/media/10.1055-s-00051611/201504/lookinside/thumbnails/10_5999_aps_2015_42_4_407_407-1.jpg)
The aim of this study is to review the protective effect of a bicycle helmet on each facial location systematically. PubMed was searched for articles published before December 12, 2014. The data were summarized, and the odds ratio (OR) between the locations of facial injury was calculated. A statistical analysis was performed with Review Manager (The Nordic Cochrane Centre). Bicycle helmets protect the upper and middle face from serious facial injury but do not protect the lower face. Non-wearers had significantly increased risks of upper facial injury (OR, 2.07; P<0.001) and of middle facial injury (OR, 1.97; P<0.001) as compared to helmet users. In the case of lower facial injury, however, only a slightly increased risk (OR, 1.42; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.67-3.00, P=0.36) was observed. The abovementioned results can be attributed to the fact that a helmet covers the head and forehead but cannot cover the lower face. However, helmets having a chin cap might decrease the risk of lower facial injury.
Publication History
Received: 16 February 2015
Accepted: 03 April 2015
Article published online:
05 May 2022
© 2015. The Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, permitting unrestricted noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)
Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA
-
REFERENCES
- 1 McDermott FT, Lane JC, Brazenor GA. et al. The effectiveness of bicyclist helmets: a study of 1710 casualties. J Trauma 1993; 34: 834-844
- 2 Heng KW, Lee AH, Zhu S. et al. Helmet use and bicycle-related trauma in patients presenting to an acute hospital in Singapore. Singapore Med J 2006; 47: 367-372
- 3 Wasserman RC, Buccini RV. Helmet protection from head injuries among recreational bicyclists. Am J Sports Med 1990; 18: 96-97
- 4 Thompson DC, Thompson RS, Rivara FP. et al. A case-control study of the effectiveness of bicycle safety helmets in preventing facial injury. Am J Public Health 1990; 80: 1471-1474
- 5 Thompson DC, Nunn ME, Thompson RS. et al. Effectiveness of bicycle safety helmets in preventing serious facial injury. JAMA 1996; 276: 1974-1975
- 6 Acton CH, Nixon JW, Clark RC. Bicycle riding and oral/maxillofacial trauma in young children. Med J Aust 1996; 165: 249-251
- 7 Júnior SM, Santos SE, Kluppel LE. et al. A comparison of motorcycle and bicycle accidents in oral and maxillofacial trauma. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2012; 70: 577-583